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| me! |
Well this is love.
I’m sitting in a windowless ‘restaurant’ with electric candles on empty
tables, a soundless television in the corner and a crowd of outward-bound clad
Dutch people waiting for the lift to their Ibis hotel rooms.
Meanwhile, my other half is reliving his
youth at a
New Model Army concert down the road.
Well, it’s his birthday next week.
On the upside, I have no excuse not to finally update this
blog which has been woefully static for the last few months...
Since our last meet-up my whole work pattern has changed, I
left my full time job where I’d been working for the last 8 years to go
freelance, set up on my own, work for myself – the phrase varies depending on
who I’m talking to. It didn’t seem
particularly daring until everyone kept telling me how brave I was. I’d done my business plan, I’ve got some big
ideas but I’m realistic and I’ve got life plans that have to dovetail into the
work changes.
Ahh, my spicy chicken
bits have arrived – salad is a nice surprise but how is one supposed to eat it
off a piece of slate without it going all over the table? Hmm, perhaps the gloopy salad dressing is a
clue.
Anyway, brave or not, this move gives me the independence,
flexibility and responsibility I’ve been hankering for, and I need to give credit
to the rocking other half down the road because I fully acknowledge it’s his
support – financial and emotional – that means I don’t have to feel as brave as
everyone expects.
Things I’ve learnt so far?
- Setting up takes longer than you think – mostly because
you’re doing everything for the first time, web sites, email addresses,
business accounts, Companies House registration, tax man – damn, still got to do the tax man
- There are not more hours to the day just because
you are working from home, I’ve been way too ambitious with what I thought I
could achieve in a day
- You get through more tea bags and toilet paper
than you used to
- Business cards are still more important than
websites or facebook pages and a catchy strap-line gives you a talking point as
you hand it over (mine’s “architecture know-how with a can-do attitude”)
Lordy what is this
music? All the 80s songs no one ever heard?
Can’t fault the service though as another charming man calls me “Mam”
and takes my plate, I mean slate.
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- I thought I knew this one but the reduced time
actually doing the ‘work’ I set out to do – because there’s all the other
admin, marketing stuff to do – has still been a surprise (see ‘not enough hours
in the day’ above)
I’ve found it hard to put a price on my work and I need 24
hours to recover from any kind of pitch. I have a friend with an MBA and her
own business under her belt - financial advice for women. Together with my tough talking brother, she
has helped calm the chattering self-doubts when it comes to fees and I’ve asked
her to come and talk to CWiC in the autumn.
I know we’re due another meet-up soon too – one for the
weekend types who find weekday evenings difficult. In the meantime I have resolved to pay more
attention to this blog and get tweeting again.
The balance between social media and the home office can be tricky but
mostly I find it a quick and welcome diversion…let’s see.
It’s probably time to make a move. The Dutch are back and I swear I can smell
hashish – coincidence? It must be coming from the back door. Hubby will no doubt be high on base guitar,
sweat and weak beer when I pick him up - an hour and a bit’s drive back to Cambridge –
what can I say, he’s worth it.
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| spicy chicken and salad on a piece of slate |
